John O'Boyle/The Star-Ledger Passengers prepare to enter the security screening area at Newark Liberty International Airport in this November 2010 file photo.

NEWARK — A federal security officer at Newark Liberty International Airport admitted today to stealing up to $30,000 from unsuspecting travelers as they passed through security checkpoints.

Al Raimi, 28, of Woodbridge, pleaded guilty to one count of theft by a government officer in an arrangement that netted him between $200 and $400 per shift after splitting the proceeds with a supervisor to pay for his silence.

Until his appearance today before U.S. District Judge Jose Linares in Newark, Raimi had only been identified in government documents as a "co-schemer" who authorities said eventually cooperated with investigators and secretly recorded the thefts and kickbacks to his boss.

Raimi admitted he stole between $10,000 and $30,000 from passengers traveling through Newark Airport’s Terminal B between October 2009 and Sept. 8, 2010.

Federal investigators said Raimi and Arato mainly targeted non-English-speaking female passengers of Asian and Indian descent who were traveling aboard Air India flights. The two officers, in sometimes brazen moves, took money from women’s carry-on luggage.

In one instance last Aug. 31 when he was not yet cooperating with authorities, Raimi stole $5,000 from a passenger’s handbag, according to the complaint against him. While Raimi conducted a hand search of the woman’s belongings, Arato distracted her and her companion, the complaint said.

An investigation was launched when passengers complained that valuables and money were missing from their carry-on baggage as they were hand-searched.

Raimi faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced June 6. Arato could get up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 24.